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Sick of prostitutes? Cheaper drugs! But jokes aside, an important issue.

Coalition of Consumer, Business, Union and Advocacy Groups Call for Increased Rx Affordability and Accessibility: An unprecedented alliance that includes AARP, NYSUT, BALCONY, CSEA, PEF, Consumers Union, NYPIRG and the Center for Medical Consumers called on state elected officials and leaders to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to New Yorkers through marketing and purchasing reform.

Among the proposals supported for inclusion in a final state budget are a prescription drug card, bulk purchasing, and an Rx prescribing educational program known as academic detailing. AARP’s Public Policy Institute report released last week shows drug companies have substantially raised prices on 220 brand name prescription drugs. The Rx Watchdog report found that prices of brand name drugs rose an average of 7.4 percent in 2007 – nearly two and a half times the rate of general inflation.

Ironically named commissioner sent out two press releases.

Commissioner Hooker Celebrates NYS Maple Season: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced the arrival of maple season in New York State. New York State has approximately 1,500 maple producers that are currently collecting sap and making maple syrup, the State’s first agricultural product of the year.

Commissioner Calls For Dairy Promotion Board Nominations: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today called for nominations for the New York Dairy Promotion Advisory Board, which administers the Dairy Promotion Order and evaluates dairy marketing promotion programs. All nominations must be received no later than April 1, 2008.

The Advisory Board consists of ten New York milk producers appointed by the Commissioner who serve a three-year term, commencing May 1, 2008. Board members do not receive a salary, but are entitled to reimbursement of actual expenses.

And this, for some reason, just seems oddly fitting…

The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA), a statewide trade organization comprised of more than 900 funeral homes and 3500 licensed funeral directors, is launching a statewide â€œawareness campaignâ€ to inform consumers about the benefits of preplanning a funeral. The campaign, which commences on March 24, is the first-ever of its kind in the State. Three separate radio spots feature testimonials from ‘real-life’ people who have lost family members that chose to preplan their own funerals.

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Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.